UYO
In a major boost for sports development in Akwa Ibom, the State-owned airline, Ibom Air, has signed a N200 million strategic sponsorship agreement with Akwa United Football Club.
With this sponsorship deal, which was signed, Thursday, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the state-owned airline becomes the football club’s official sponsor for the next two years.
Considered by football pundits as a major private sector partnership, the deal will have Ibom Air contributing both cash and value in-kind support, with 50 percent of the sponsorship delivered through services and logistics.
The acting managing director and chief executive officer of Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi, on the occasion, said the partnership underscores the airline’s commitment to community development through sports, health and education.
Uriesi maintained that Akwa United is a team with a proud history currently in a rebuilding phase, hinting that Ibom Air wants to support the football team’s resurgence and help them return to the top in Nigerian football.
“This partnership reflects our belief in the power of sports to inspire young people and unite our state,” Uriesi said.
The commissioner for sports, Elder Paul Bassey, while praising the collaboration, described it as a fulfilment of Governor Umo Eno-led administration’s ARISE Agenda, which encourages private sector participation in sports development.
“This is a dream come true. Bringing Akwa United and Ibom Air together is a visionary step. Beyond supporting our club, we are setting a foundation for sports in Akwa Ibom to meet global standards,” he added.
Chairman of Akwa United FC, Mr. Joseph Eno, in his remarks, described the sponsorship as timely and morale-boosting for the club’s players and technical crew.
“This support comes at a crucial moment as we restructure and strive to regain our competitive strength. Wearing the Ibom Air brand reminds us that we represent excellence, and we must live up to it,” Eno said.
Other highlights of the event was the unveiling of Akwa United’s new jersey bearing the Ibom Air logo and the inauguration of working committees to manage the partnership.
Akwa United, winners of the 2021 Nigeria Premier Football League and twice FA Cup winners, was founded in 1997 and remains one of the state’s flagship sporting institutions.
It is expected that the strategic partnership would strengthen the football club’s financial stability and enhance its competitiveness on the national and continental stage, as well as improve players’ welfare.
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